Lawyer and property developer Daniel Besen, son of billionaire retail magnate Marc Besen, is building a palatial home in Toorak expected to cost tens of millions of dollars.

Mr Besen, 46, a former director of the Melbourne International Arts Festival and the Heide Art Gallery, is constructing a Toorak property said to include a high-security private art gallery underground to hold his priceless collection, and a multi-level, climate-controlled basement garage as well as at least two above-ground levels. The Age understands that with the cutting-edge design by architects Wood Marsh, the project will exceed in cost and complexity the $20 million-plus new home of drinks distributor Harry Stamoulis down the road.

Mr Stamoulis' massive home at 39 St Georges Road is expected to be the largest single residential project in recent Victorian history, and will be worth more overall when land price is included.

A Google Earth view of the site.

One neighbour said they were ''horrified'' at the commercial-sized construction jobs in the area.

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They said work on the Besen site often started at 5.50am.

''It is not appropriate for nearby residents to have to endure the associated disruption, building noise, obstructed private driveways and road closures for a period of 2½ years in order to satisfy the materialistic and ego-driven consumerist need of a few,'' the neighbour said.

Building works on the property. Photo: Simon O'Dwyer

The Besen construction site on the corner of Towers and Lansell roads in Toorak has become something of a tourist attraction, with builders Maben having mined a cavernous pit for the hidden levels.

With most of the underground work complete and a lift shaft installed, Maben is now constructing a complex, curved mansion, with what appears to be several circular spaces inside. It is expected to take another two years to finish.

A planning permit from Stonnington City Council is not required for single dwellings in Residential 1 Zone where the site is larger than 500 square metres.

Danielle and Daniel Besen. Photo: Cathryn Tremain

The site of the Besen home is 2312 square metres, more than 10 times the average new house in Melbourne, and alone is worth almost $10 million.

Buyer's advocate David Morrell said a new generation of super-wealthy Melburnians were making their mark on the city's exclusive streets.

''The new generation of rich coming through want modern architectural homes,'' he said. ''They don't want a dated home.''

121 comments so far

and wouldn't it be nice if each donated 20% of their NET WORTH and built a new CHILDRENS hospital , love to see the tax rate They Pay , TRUST FUND anyone

Commenter

open thy eyes

Location

Date and time

October 23, 2012, 9:58AM

whats stopping you donating 20% of your net wealth? Pfft!!

Commenter

JamesS

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

October 23, 2012, 10:45AM

And what do you propose they do with that old Children's hospital that opened on November 30, 2011.

Commenter

ProChoice

Location

Date and time

October 23, 2012, 11:08AM

Open eyes - do YOU donate 20% of your income to charity?

What does it matter if someone wants to spend their own money building a large house? How would all the knockers here like it if complete strangers started criticising them over their choice of home? It's no one's business but the house owner.

The class warfare attitude is alive and well here it seems...

Commenter

Dave

Location

Western Suburbs

Date and time

October 23, 2012, 11:09AM

Go into the new Children’s Hospital and see the names on the contributor’s wall, there are a lot of familiar names there but no ‘open thy eyes’. Having money doesn’t make you a bad person. Bigotry has many colours

Commenter

MT

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

October 23, 2012, 11:38AM

The harder you work, the luckier you are. If 20% of your net wealth is what you choose to give to your chosen charity you are more than welcome to do so. This article was about a family's home renovation, not where they donate their money. I am sure where they donate their time and money would be a lot longer article.

Commenter

Kendo

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

October 23, 2012, 12:00PM

I guess what people do with their own money is their own business, but people have the gall to criticise McMansions in the outer suburbs while taking up 2300sq.m of space. You have to feel sorry for the neighbours though.

Commenter

Dave

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

October 23, 2012, 12:06PM

‘Open thy eyes’, the contributions of the Besen Family Family Foundation have evidently escaped you. The information on the Foundation’s website states that the areas it supports are, inter alia, “Arts and Culture, Health and Welfare”. It seems likely that the Foundation has made a greater contribution in these areas than most of us.

The Besen family’s wealth has also been made through their own hard work and nous – starting from a single shop in Melbourne seventy-odd years ago. Do those using this article to call for “revolution” against the wealthy suggest that such hard work over the years should now be penalized? Or that none of us are entitled to enjoy the fruits of our labours?

Commenter

DLP

Location

Date and time

October 23, 2012, 12:49PM

You're allowed to start construction in residential areas at 5.50am in Melbourne? OMG what a terrible city it must be to live in, that would kill me.

Commenter

Cathy Little

Location

Perth

Date and time

October 23, 2012, 12:50PM

Why is it that Austraklian homes are sooooo bland and uninspired? Even the mansions are exceedingly bland.